Are Supply Chains Maturing?

According to a CSRwire.com news alert, Supply chain sustainability is maturing. The traditional focus on social factors - such as forced labor and child labor, factory working conditions, overtime and sexual harassment - rightly continues to deepen in sophistication while simultaneously enhancing the focus on "green" considerations. And on top of this, supply chain sustainability is notching up to the next level of effectiveness by creating efficiencies through collaboration and connection.
Exemplifying these developments is the Australian Branch of GM. It is noted that they are "greening up" their entire supply chain by using computer monitoring to increase energy efficiency, and by reducing water consumption in 17 of their factories!
This is a great example, but I think it is to general of a statement to simply say that supply chain sustainability is maturing! There are very few examples of such large supply chain initiatives in US factories! It seems so simple to wire a computer system to monitor excess waste and energy. Hopefully GM's Australian branch will serve as a positive example for American companies.
Many people when they think of CSR, think of soley the corporation. But, supply chain management is so crucial because when the supply chain is put under "ecoscrutiny", all of the moving parts (which are substantial) are considered. Some of the parts of the supply chain are independently contracted and supply other companies as well. So, if part of the supply chain is eco-friendly and cares about what kind of social return their service provides, and contracts with a company that has not given the subject much consideration, this may have a positive impact on the number of corporations who become socially responsible in the long run.